It was with much sadness that we learned of the death of Eric Potter at the end of October. This village owes him a great deal for his many years of service to the community and we know that our sense of loss is shared by many other villages in our locality.
Eric joined Timsbury Parish Council in 1990 and for the next 25 years we benefited from the experience he had gained during his career in Local Government as an expert in Town Planning. He served 14 years as Chairman of the Council from 1992 until 2006. The centenary of Parish Councils in 1994 provided an opportunity to recognise and celebrate past achievements in Timsbury and for Eric to express his belief in the importance in the role of Parish Councils in the future.
Eric was also Chairman of the Conygre Hall Management Committee which was responsible for running the hall before the Conygre Trust was established. He took a keen interest in many village organisations especially the Cricket Club and all the activities of the Horticultural Society.
Further afield it was not just Eric’s knowledge and experience that made him the natural choice as chairman to the local branches of such bodies as CPRE, the Council for the Protection of Rural England , and ALCA, the Avon Local Councils Association. He had an eye for the special character, and unique quality of the local street scene and landscape. He endeavoured to prevent the loss of this individual identity which too often accompanies change and which can result in making one town or village look like any other.
We send our condolences to Pam and the family on their sad loss.
Veronica Packham, Chairman Timsbury Parish Council